Awning construction



1952 c. F. LANGLEY ETAL AWNING CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1949 VENTORS.

Ca Eu James M 76/06/09.

ATTORNEY$.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 Carl lianglem Eulus L. Little, and James M. Tomblin Gliarleston, S. 0., assignors of twentyfive pen-cent t'os'aid Langley, twenty-five per cent eta; saidLittle, twenty=fiveper1cent toisaidf Tomblinsandatwenty-five per :cent: to- Jesse C.

App; tari-o te; 26, 1949; SerialNo. 123,693;

This invention relates t inrprovements-inawm ing structure's.

The primary obj ect ofthis-invention is the provision of a non-collapsibleawningponstructed of sheet material, such asalum'inum; plastic; or metal alloy havingan improved arrangement of parts for insuring proper ventilation; and' embodying a strong and durableassemblage;

A further object of this invention'is-"the provision of a sheet metal awning having the walls and panel structures thereof? so constructed and arranged as to provide for aproper breathing or ventilating action. I

A further object of this-invention-the-provision of an improved wall-construction for sheet metal awnings wherein a plurality-of; strips of sheet metal are so constructed" andarranged' as to provide for adequate and properiventilation.

A further object of this invention isjthe pro-v vision of an improved supporting andjmounting structure for non-collapsible awnings of sheet material construction.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, 7

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein. similar reference characters designate" corresponding. parts thruout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective viewloflthe. improved awning.

Figure 2 is a transverse crosssectional, view taken in a horizontalplane thru the awning construction.

' Figure 3 is avertical cross sectionalview taken thru the awning substantially on ,the line 3'3' f Fi ur 1- Figure 4 is a fragmentaryrear view of the awn: ing structure.

i ure 5is an enlarged fragmentary, crosssec- 'tionalview taken thru the rearv upper. corner'o-f.

the awningjstructure' substantially on the-line 5%5I'of FiQUIG'. 7

Figure. 6 is an enlarged,fragmentarylcross sectional view taken thru the rear bracing constructionnof the. awning, substantially, on .the line, 6L6

' eclai s; (cram-57.5)

Figure 10 is a fragmentary-perspective view of the front inside lower corner of theawning'con struction.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in's'ection, showing a ventilating opening, and the mode of attaching decorating strips.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the inventionjthe-letter A may generally desig hate the improved awning. It includesa front: or roof wall B, side walls C and D and a valanceor skirt structure E; these" parts being suitably connected by reinforcing and other structure to be subsequently described;

We know that heretofore-sheet metal awningshave been made with the walls "constructed of a plurality of transverse louvers fixedly connected together or connected for adjustment, and that it is old to provide sheet metal with corrugations. However, an essential feature of novelty of this invention consists in the assemblageof the wall panels so that the ridges and valleys of the'corrugations or channels are relativelyoffset in adjacent panels. That is, channel groove of one panel or section aligns and overlaps with the channel groove of an adjacent section to provideventilating openings at the juncture of the panels, whereby to provide a most eficient breather orventilating action for circulating air currents and. winds.

Referring to the roof wall B',"and sidewalls C and D, it is preferred that each of the same be. constructed of a plurality of. panels or strips 26; The panels run transverse upon their respective walls, and each of the same is corrugated to pro-- vide channel ridges and valleys inadjacent rela-- tion. The channels are preferably uniform in. Width and the depth of the channel grooves orvalleys is selective. This gives a very strong panel structure whichwill not easily-bender col-= lapse,. as is quite apparent. The channels and! ridges are located upon both the inner and outer' surfaces thereof and for the purpose of this ap-' plication the channel ridges are to be considered.

as those facing the outer surfaces of the awnings,. and the valleys lie between the ridges.

It is to be understood that the shapes of the walls, both 'roof and sidewalls, may varyto suitrequirements. The dimensional characteristics: may vary widely and the roof or front wa1l'struc-- ture may slope or assume any. other shape, such. as concave orconvex. The number of panelsin. each wall is selective, depending upon the size of the awnings The principal characteristicsof" each wall. structure-f is? that adiacentiipanels. IwilL have the ridges and valleys relatively offset. The channels defining the ridges and valleys run upright. This means that a valley of one panel will lie in longitudinal alignment with the ridge of an adjacent panel, and vice versa. This is true both at the inside and the outside surfacing of each panel. The panels 20 are shown as provided with ridges or high points 25 and intermediate valleys 26 or low points. They run upright, or across the strips or panels. Preferably the channel legs 28, shown in Figure 7 and elsewhere, are divergent away from their connecting ridge or valley, so that the outer exposed surfacing of these legs are sloped to provide for a natural drainage of water into the valleys or channel grooves. As is best shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, the marginal portions of adjacent panels are relatively overlapped, for the distance X, which may vary. The abutting valley and ridge portions of adjacent panels are riveted together as at 39, along the overlapping margins of the panels. It is to be noted that the lower margin of an upper panel or strip always is uppermost or overlies the upper margin of the next lowermost panel or strip. In this manner the ridges 25 on the outer surfacing of the panels have their under grooves facing the valleys of the next adjacent lowermost panel, to provide relatively large rectangular-shaped ventilating openings 35 across each roof and side wall wherever the panel sections overlap and are riveted or welded together. These openings provide for a natural breathing action of the air and wind, not only to ventilate the inside of the awning but also to prevent undue compression of air within the awning, should a wind of high velocity be blowing. This acts to prevent destruction of the awning, as is quite apparent.

In the awning shown in the drawings the front or roof wall B is square or rectangular-shaped, and the side walls are triangular-shaped, to permit of a sloping of the front wall.

It is preferred to have the front or roof wall structure B of the awning detachable from the side walls and other structure.

Each panel 28 of the front or roof wall B, at the ends thereof is inwardly and downwardly flanged at 49 and adapted to overlie the outer surfacing of the side walls C and D, in a manner to be subsequently described.

The lower marginal portion of the front or roof 'wall B is reinforced by an elongated channel- ;shaped member 56, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 10 .of the drawings.

This member 50 preferably consists of a body wall which is riveted at 52 :to the under surfaces of the valley portions form- ;ing the lower panel section 2c of the wall B. The reinforcing piece 5!) extends entirely across the lower panel section of the wall B. The body 5| of the reinforcing piece 56, along its upper marginal edge, is provided with a right angled reinforcing leg 53 and the latter has a depending right angled leg 54 to provide for additional reinforcement. Along its lower marginal portion the body 5! of the reinforcing piece 50 is provided with a vertically depending portion 60 in acute angled relation with respect to the plane of the body portion 5|, and the strip 68 at its lower marginal edge is provided with a right angled inturned leg or attaching strip portion 6|, to serve as means for detachably connecting the roof wall structure to the skirt or valance E, as will be subsequently mentioned. It will be apparent that the reinforcing member 50. not only aids in reinforcing the sloping roof or front wall structure B, but also enables the attachment of the front wall structure to the valance or skirt E. An upper flashing and reinforcing strip for the top of the roof wall B is provided. It is best shown in cross section in Figure 5 and consists of a horizontal body portion 65 having a sloping front flange 66 adapted to overlie the upper margin at the outer surface of the top panel section 20, to which it is riveted at intervals, as at 61; the rivets, of course, being only secured to the panel section at the outer surfaces of the ridge portions of said top panel section. The horizontal portion 65 of the flash reinforcing strip is provided with a vertical upturned flange 10, as shown in Figure 5 and elsewhere. This serves as an abutment against the surface of the building to which the awning is adapted to be attached.

It will be noticed from Figure 4, that there are ventilating openings 12, to the inside of the awning, at each of the valley portions of the top panel 20 of the wall B, opening immediately at and beneath the horizontal body 65 of the reinforcing flashing strip.

Referring to the side walls C and D, the same are of identical construction, in the present awning, altho their shapes may vary to suit conditions. Preferably they are each vertically positioned and along their lower margins, said walls C and D at the inside of each of the lower panel sections 2i} are each provided with a reinforcing and valance attaching angle 15, one leg 16 of which is riveted at T! to the inside abutting surfaces of what normally constitutes the valley portion of the panel section; the other right angled leg 78 extending to the inside of the awning for attachment with the valance F in a manner to be subsequently described.

The forward sloping edges of the side walls C and D are secured together by means of angle pieces 8!} which are shaped so that the inner legs 8! therein lie against the inside surfaces of what normally constitute the valley portions of the panels 20 of the side wall structures, to which said angles 80 are riveted, as shown at 82 (Figure '7). The other leg portion 83 forwardly overlies the front marginal edge of the side wall, to serve as a means for stabilizing the side margins of the roof Wall E, as will be noted from Figure 7.

It will be noted that the side flanges 40 of each panel section of the roof wall B at the upper and lower margins thereof are attached by means of detachable screw or bolt structures 85 to the leg portions Bl of the angle pieces 80, as is best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings.

The side walls C and D, along the rear vertical marginal portions thereof are each provided with an inside reinforcing angle 30. The latter extends thruout the length of the respective side wall. The angles each include a'leg 9|; as shown in Figure 6, riveted at 92, at intervals, to the panel sections 20 of the side walls. The angles 90 are each provided with a double thickness leg 93 in right angled relation with respect to the plane of the side walls, to serve as an attaching means for securement to the building structure or support to which the awning is to be secured.

Novel bracing means is provided at the rear of the awning structure, in the nature of a relatively deep channel 95, the reinforcing flanges or legs of which are turned inwardly, as shown in Figure 3, and the ends of which are free of these flanges and overlie the leg portions 93 of the vertical angle pieces 90 to which they are detachably secured by means of screws or bolts 96. More than one of these transverse bracing channels or pieces may be provided if found necessary.

Small angle clips I00, as shown in Figure 5, are provided at the ends of the front reinforcing and flashing piece, underlying the body portion 65 to which they are secured detachably by screws or bolts I I. The other leg portions of the angle clips I00 are detachably secured as at I02 to the upper ends of the vertical angle pieces 90.

Referring to the trim, valance or skirt E, the same includes a front wall portion I05 and side wall portions I06 in right angled relation therewith. They may be suitably scalloped or otherwise decoratively formed, and the upper edges thereof are provided with inturned attaching flanges I01 which may underlie the leg Bl of the reinforcing channel piece and the inturned leg 18 of the reinforcing angle pieces 15, to which they are detachably secured as by means of screws or bolts I01.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the front or roof wall structure B may be detached from the other structure merely by detachment of the bolts or screws 85 and the bolts or screws I H] which are secured to the channel piece 50. Of course the top clip screws l0l must also be detached.

It is intended to provide contrastingly colored decorating strips which may be secured upon the outer surfaces of any of the wall structures of the awning and of course they run longitudinally of the awning.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of inventiofi herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A non-collapsible awning of sheet material comprising roof and side walls, said walls each being formed of a plurality of relatively connected transversely disposed panel sections, each of said panel sections being corrugated to provide channel grooves thereacross both at the inner and outer surfaces thereof, the panel sections of each of said walls being arranged so that the marginal portions of the adjacent panel sections have a substantial overlap with the channel grooves at one surface of a panel section lying in alignment with the channel grooves on the other surface of an adjacent panel section whereby to provide ventilating openings at the juncture and overlap of adjacent panel sections.

2. In a non-collapsible awning construction of sheet material the combination of relatively connected roof and side walls, the roof wall being constructed of a plurality of transversely arranged panel sections, said panel sections being corrugated to define upright channels across the panel sections defining channel grooves at both the inner and outer surfaces thereof, the said panel sections being substantially overlapped at the adjacent marginal edges thereof and secured together with the channel grooves of each panel section at one surface thereof lying in alignment with the channel grooves of the adjacently secured panel section whose channel grooves are at the opposite surface of the said last mentioned panel section to define at the juncture of said panel sections ventilating openings to the inside of said awning.

3. In a rigid awning, an inclined roof being constructed of a plurality of sheet material panel sections extending across the width of the awning, each of said panel sections having corrugations extending at right angles to the width of the awning, said sections being substantially overlapped downwardly at adjacent marginal edges thereof and the low points of the corrugations of one section being secured to the high points of the corrugations of the next lower section whereby the juncture of the edges provide ventilating openings.

4. In a roof construction, such as for awnings, a roof wall constructed of a plurality of sheet material panel sections substantially overlapped at their adjacent marginal edges, said panel sections at said overlapping edges being corrugated with the corrugations extending transversely to the line of the overlapping edges and with the low points of the corrugations of one section secured to the high points of the corrugations of the next section whereby to provide at the juncture of the edges ventilating openings between the inside and outside of said wall portion.

CARL F. LANGLEY. EULUS L. LITTLE. JAMES M. TOMBLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 156,190 Arabit Nov. 29, 1949 709,257 Cottrell Sept. 16, 1902 2,136,065 Voight Nov. 8, 1938 2,296,467 Dugan Sept. 22, 1942 2,457,574 Lewis Dec. 28, 1948 2,467,351 Vollmer Apr. 12, 1949 2,474,011 Overly June 21, 1949 2,503,492 Jones Apr. 11, 1950 

